Efficiency - Looking for top tips in craming in more chores

[bacon]

How efficient are you and does it really pay off by being so strict and anal (sorry!)to get all your chores done.

For instance do you without fail fill the dishwasher and switch on before bed and scrub down all the work sufaces so on awaken you bound into a fresh and tidy kitchen?

I am a SAHM but really struggling I feel as though I am chasing my tail some days.

There must be fantastic mums out there who have embrassed this full-time job and have it off to a tee.

Are you nuts....?

I hate monotony so could not do ever do chores in a consistent anal way day in day out. If you love order then maybe it's a buzz and enjoyable, but not for me.

Call me a slattern if you want. I just do as much as I can the moment I see it needs doing, particularly in the kitchen because as much order there as possible helps me keep tolerably organised about everything else. I have known many households which were well and truly disgusting filthy scarey disordered tips, so I think my standards are just fine.

I used to be able to get all the housework in the morning before I dropped the kids off at school. Thats how organised I was.

Now, I had to work full time when The Sparks got laid off, since then, roles have reversed, I have been laid off and he's working. But I just can not get into the routine I used to have. It's been 2 months now and I'm still behind on everything.

Mind you, posting on here isnt helping me.

I think the best thing is to decide what bugs you most, and make sure you get that done, so that you can feel more positive. So, if the sight of last night's dishes in the kitchen when you get up makes you feel like you're losing the battle already for that day, then take time to do it in the evening. OTOH maybe there's something else which bothers you instead? Work out which thing it is that makes you feel you're chasing your tail.

For me, oddly, it's full waste-paper baskets. It's not like they matter, or are unhygenic, but I hate to sit down of an evening to the sight of one!

Thats a good idea.

Only thing is the whole bloody house annoys me.

Join us on the slatterns thread

I like to have a clean, tidy and organised house but tbh, it hardly ever happens.

Some evenings i feel capable of loading the dishy, putting a washload on, cleaning the kitchen and putting all the toys away before i go to bed, but most often i manage to put the dishy on and that is it.

Again, in the mornings, if i am feeling perky i can unload the dishy and washing machine while the kettle is boiling for my cup of tea, but often i need a cup of tea first. I do find having a daily basic list can help, and then if i get those jobs done each day then things don't go backwards iyswim?

Ah well, it falls down when it's everything!

Back when I was a SAHM, I was pretty hopeless about housework, but I tried to do the things first which took time but not my attention IYSWIM? So, put on the dishwasher and washing machine, take anything out of the freezer to defrost, put things in to soak, or to marinade, or cook food which has to set or cool down.

Then make sure there is food for everyone, clean (and ironed if appropriate) clothes for everyone, and the house is adequately hygenic.

If you can manage that, then the rest is optional!

I will try harder.

Do you think I can convince The Sparks to buy me a dishwasher?

Make him do the dishes for a while - you'll be amazed how fast it seems necessary to have a dishwasher

All I want really is some "me time" and time in the evenings to 'get out' or do a hobby - its not happening! Even as a SAHM I am still doing loads in the evening. If I leave things as hubby sayes "come and sit down" all very well but dont see him lifting a finger!!!

What I'm totally confused about if full time mums can do it then something is going wrong - or do I assume that when working full-time the OH helps?

As far as mum hubby is concerned I look after the home and kids, he works and earns the money sounds good in principle but my job doesnt finish till late at night.

The best explanation I've seen of how housework "ought" to be divided up is that, if both of you get about the same amount of time to do things just for yourself, then you've got the division about right.

So, if he works outside the home and has evenings free, and you are busy with small children all day and are still doing chores into the evening, then there's a problem.

The problem with being a SAHM is that there are no set hours.

And living on the business with ranting husband who doenst come in till 7ish and spends rest of evening organising the next day - 7 days a week.

SO being organised isnt an option cos if I dont do it no know one else does.

I was even thinking of getting up earlier on the odd morning to get those few jobs done so I could possibly do something nice in the afternoon.

My problem wont be so bad when both boys in school, being both pre-school and at home most of the time. Luckily both boys go to nursery two days a week but on those days I usually do loads of paperwork, drive around picking up bits etc. But still struggle on the other days.

Perhaps I just a moaner and see some of my friends in completely different livestyles.

Bacon,

It just boils down to the fact that housework never ends.

With two boys in the house at pre-school age I wouldnt worry about it. It's easier when they are at school. Dont stress about it before then. That times goes by far too quick, play with them while you can. As long as you can chuck everything in a corner and they are clean and healthy you cant ask for much else at this age.

Worry about it when you have more time on your hands sans children for a couple of hours.

i must be anal than!
i do bathroom as i go along plus i wash my bath after every use (takes 2 sec saves hours)
diswasher and laundry daily...
diswasher in the evening and laundry when i leave to take dd to nursery- i can hang it up when i get back..
and hoovering every other day
and bedding& towels change on friday
thats it
oh and post: i decide there and than what to keep& deal with and what to chuck otherwise i would drown in it!
thats it really not much time for anything else

I dont switch the dishwasher on before bed cos then there is nowhere to put the breakfast dishes, and as a working single mum I dont have time to wash the dishes in the morning, so mine goes on as I walk out the door so that I can empty it when I get home whilst I make tea (every other day not every day it doesnt need to run daily) so its empty after every meal ready to have stuff thrown in. Easy.

I do put the clothes onto wash before bed most nights and they go in tumble whilst at work or it goes on in morning and goes in tumble after work

Like wify I clean bathrooms every day cos its easier and very quick- mine every morning DS' every night
Tidying is the hardest bit, but I always make sure I get an evening by just settign my timer and blasting through 15 mins as soon as DS in bed and then 15 mins before bed, plus my night time routines
I know it sounds uptight and stuff, but I am so much freer than I was when I spent my life chasing my tail and pretending I didnt care and that 'life was too short'

well, the things i appreciate are

clean tidy kitchen with no dishes
tidy living room
a wash ready to hang out in the morning
being able to walk normally around the house without having to climb over junk.

so in the evenings i put a wash in machine and set to start during the night. clean the kitchen, wash all dishes and put away. put the dishcloth in a basin of bleach. empty the bins. tidy round the living room. put any folded washing away. throw any dirty washing in laundry basket.

i am now trying relly hard to get the whole house to a level of cleanliness i will not be embarrassed about so each day i am focusing on one thing for about an hour with the longterm goal of developing a weekly/daily routine.